Trump Betrays Afghan War Allies Left Behind
The same government that promised protection is now closing its doors—abandoning allies, women, and families still at risk.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of State has formally notified Congress of its plans to eliminate the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE), the sole office dedicated to supporting Afghans left behind after the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. The closure is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025, unless Congress acts to reverse or delay the decision.
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Established in the immediate aftermath of the U.S. military exit from Afghanistan, CARE served as the central hub for relocation processing, family reunification, and coordination of emergency protection cases. Its termination marks a significant shift in U.S. policy toward Afghans who assisted the U.S. mission or remain at risk under Taliban rule.
The decision was outlined in a congressional notification detailing a wider reorganization of the State Department’s regional and humanitarian operations. Under the plan, CARE’s functions will be absorbed into the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, which itself is undergoing consolidation. The bureau’s regional offices will be merged, and the Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconstruction will be dissolved.
The document provided to Congress does not outline a replacement structure, transition plan, or clearly designate responsible personnel for the functions previously handled by CARE. Staff within the office have reportedly not received formal guidance on next steps, and the notification misidentified the successor bureau—raising concerns from advocates about the clarity and care of the process.
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CARE was widely regarded as a lifeline for Afghans navigating complex and often urgent resettlement challenges. Its removal leaves no designated team to manage evacuations or coordinate with advocacy groups and diaspora organizations.
The closure comes amid a broader realignment of U.S. foreign policy and humanitarian priorities. The same reorganization includes the elimination of the Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI), which served as a central voice on gender equality. The Department has stated that gender-related responsibilities will be integrated elsewhere, but did not provide details.
Human rights observers have raised alarms about the timing of these changes. The Taliban government continues to enforce a sweeping system of gender-based restrictions, including bans on girls’ education beyond the sixth grade and prohibitions on women working, traveling alone, or accessing healthcare without a male guardian. The end of CARE, critics argue, leaves Afghan women with fewer avenues for escape or international support.
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The shift also coincides with emerging immigration policy changes under the Trump administration. The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration is being redirected toward “remigration” efforts, emphasizing return to countries of origin over permanent resettlement. Meanwhile, a forthcoming executive order—Executive Order 14161—is expected to impose new limits or bans on visa issuances for Afghans.
Taken together, the elimination of CARE and the restructuring of related offices represent a broad rollback of U.S. engagement on Afghan protection. Without CARE, Afghans who remain in hiding or stuck in third countries face growing uncertainty about their future and fewer channels for assistance. Congressional action would be required to preserve CARE or establish a new dedicated framework for relocation and protection efforts.
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